The Middle American
Far left. Far right. Conservative. Liberal. Republican. Democrat. Can't fully relate? Me either. But nearly all public discourse and media is centered upon the views share by one of the two political parties - and often those shouting the loudest from the extremes of both sides. This isn't just a political podcast. It's a podcast on life and society, with politics mixed in. But from a viewpoint we do not hear enough from - the middle.
Episodes
151 episodes
Civil Discourse in College: A Conversation with The Lemur's Sherman Criner and Zachary Partnoy
This past week has not been America's best. Political violence. Hateful rhetoric. Social media comments leading to job terminations. Testing the limits of free speech. And it all started from a tragic public debate...
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Season 3
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Episode 32
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1:15:22
The Assassination of Charlie Kirk
Two times this week I've watched a person die online. Twice. 24 years after 9/11, we are more divided than ever before in my lifetime. A bullet took out Charlie Kirk in an effort to silence free speech. Killed because of...
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Season 3
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Episode 31
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43:01
The Murder of Iryna Zarutska
A young woman boarded the light rail after her work shift at a local pizzeria in Charlotte only to be stabbed to death by the man sitting behind her. It happened two weeks ago, yet the public is just finding out about it now. Narrat...
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Season 3
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Episode 30
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55:19
Minneapolis Mass Murder
Another school shooting. Are you as shocked as you were when you heard about Columbine? Sandy Hook? No? What does that tell you about where society has gone since those instances? Kids still being killed in school ...
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Season 3
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Episode 29
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1:01:56
Russia/Ukraine Peace Negotiations, Mahaffey Resigns, and MSNOW
President Trump met with both Putin and Zelensky separately in an effort to broker a deal of a lasting peace agreement. What would a deal look like? Long-time WCPSS school board member resigned from her post. I take a look bac...
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Season 3
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Episode 28
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1:01:56
Democrats' Trust Problem
Democrat favorability is at historic lows heading into the 2026 midterms. In North Carolina, registered Republicans are on the verge of overtaking registered Democrats. Why the sharp decline? It's a matter of trust. Demo...
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Season 3
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Episode 27
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56:04
Obama Treason, Stein Visits Western NC & Colbert Cancelled
In an attempt to deflect from the growing Epstein Files fervor, the Trump Administration has dusted off the Russia Russia Russia story and shed new light onto what US Intelligence knew and what it portrayed to the American public after the 2016...
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Season 3
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Episode 26
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1:19:45
MAGA Mess
MAGA is a mess at the moment. A movement that has largely been fueled by conspiracy theories peddled by its leader, Donald Trump, in eradicating the Deep State is now at a crossroads. One of its biggest conspiracy theories, The Jeff...
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Season 3
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Episode 25
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52:26
Epstein Files, Elon's Third Party, & Floods
All the conspiracy theories surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's death and client list took a major hit this week when the DOJ and FBI announced that there was no list and he committed suicide. The news surprised many, particularly MAGA supporte...
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Season 3
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Episode 24
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57:08
Tillis Drops Out
Two-term Republican North Carolina Senator opted to not run for re-election in 2026 in what will likely be the most contested Congressional race of the upcoming election. Tillis was despised by many Republicans for being a RINO, with his ...
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Season 3
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Episode 23
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49:43
Iran: Conversation with Reza Breakstone
Iran is dominating the news at the moment. Fears grow of World War III or US involvement in another Middle East conflict. But how much do you actually know about the country? Who is the Ayatollah and why does he hold power?&nb...
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Season 3
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Episode 22
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1:14:06
Civics 101: Minnesota Assassination, No Kings Rally, and Rep. von Haefen
I predicted that last weekend would be turbulent. And it unfortunately was in the worst of ways. The assassination of Rep. Hortman in her own home was horrifying and widely condemned. But fingers were pointed by hands that wer...
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Season 3
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Episode 21
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41:49
Fire & ICE
ICE deportations are escalating. Protests that originated in LA are going to spread. Peaceful protests will turn into destructive riots. And Trump 2.0 will deal with the situation differently than Trump 1.0 did in the summer o...
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Season 3
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Episode 20
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49:22
The Breakup: Donald & Elon
You knew it would eventually come. But this week, President Trump and Elon Musk seemingly ended their bromance in spectacular (and embarrassing) fashion - with accusations ranging from lack of influence to pedophilia. The catalyst i...
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Season 3
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Episode 19
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57:18
Listener Conversation: Shan from NC discusses her home search experience
Debt free with a household income in the six figures. This is the goal of most middle class families. Shan and her family are those people. But they still have found home buying to be unaffordable. This looming housing c...
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Season 3
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Episode 18
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55:16
Biden has Cancer, Griffin Concedes, and The Original Sin
Former President Biden announced that he has Stage 4 prostate cancer. The timing of the announcement has raised skepticism as to how long this diagnosis has been known and again questions the level of cover-up done to keep him running for...
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Season 3
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Episode 17
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47:43
House of Cards: The Looming Housing Crisis
In 2008, we saw the housing market take an unprecedented crash that took over a decade to recover. I bought in 2008. I saw signs then. I was told not to worry by the experts. I learned my lesson. It's now 2025.&nbs...
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Season 3
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Episode 16
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1:03:36
Trump's First 100 Days
Trump Presidency 2.0 has officially hit 100 days filled with a head-spinning amount of executive orders, controversies over various policies, a closed border, and a disruption (if not dismantling) of longstanding institutions. No Presiden...
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Season 3
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Episode 15
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57:54
Conversation with Patrick Newton: Chair of the NC Forward Party
Patrick Newton sits down for a conversation about leading the NC Forward Party, a political third party looking to take a foothold in North Carolina and across the country. Independents make up the largest voting bloc in North Carolina, b...
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Season 3
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Episode 14
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1:04:42
The Deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia
The Trump Administration has hit it's first bellwether case when it comes to enforcement of its immigration policies. Kilmar Garcia is either a "Maryland man" raising three disabled children who was mistakenly deported to an El Salvador p...
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Season 3
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Episode 13
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1:02:44
Signal Failure, NC Sports Betting Anniversary & Tesla Terror
Top Republicans, national security and intelligence officials are in hot water after including the Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic in a group chat discussing military strikes in Yemen on an app you can download on your iPhone bringing back memo...
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Season 3
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Episode 12
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37:50
March Madness 2025
The Brackets are back! If you are looking to fill out your office pool, or maybe compete against your friends or neighbors, and don't necessarily follow a lot of college basketball - this episode is for you. Rather than pick a team ...
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Season 3
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Episode 11
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40:27
COVID: 5 Years Later
Five years ago this week, the world shut down and forever changed. COVID divided this country like nothing we have seen since the Civil War. The ramifications are still being felt today. I look back at what happened, what we l...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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1:13:28